Mathias Nygaard

"Etenim omnes artes, quae ad humanitatem pertinent, habent quoddam commune vinculum, et quasi cognatione quadam inter se continentur."

"Indeed, all the sciences which pertain to the human have a certain common bond, and are, as it were, united by a kind of kinship among themselves."

Cicero, Pro Archia, 1.2.

At the University College of Volda I teach religious studies, philosophy, and social theory.

My research is centered on the inquiry: "What is a human being?" This interrogation encompasses an examination of human self-representation and self-comprehension within various frameworks. I have completed projects in cultural history, intellectual history, anthropology, and philology. At present, I am engaged in projects that synthesize cognitive sciences and the humanities, with a particular emphasis on mimetic practices. Additionally, my broader interests encompass themes such as sacrifice, myths, ecstasy, monsters, death, and heroes.

Work Experience

2024- Professor, Volda University College, Norway.

2023 Associate Professor, Volda University College, Norway.

2018-2023 Associate Professor and Research Dean, The Newman Institute, Uppsala, Sweden.

2016-2017 Associate Professor (temporary), Volda University College.

2012-2014 Visiting Researcher (Comparative Philosophy), Kobe University, Japan.

2007-2008 Visiting Researcher (Ancient Religions of the Middle East), University of Tübingen, Germany.

Various temporary positions at OsloMet, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, etc. (2010-2018).

Experience as peer-reviewer, external examiner, translator, member of academic societies, board member, etc. (2010-)

Education

2018- Sociology, psychology, Uppsala University, Linnæus University.

2005-2010 PhD in Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen.

2008- Languages, Kobe University, Uppsala University, Dalarna University (Japanese, Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, Ugaritic, Akkadian, Greek, Latin, Georgian, German, etc.).

2006-2007 MA in Archaeology, École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem.

2004-2005 MTh in Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen.

Early representations of the human, masks from Nahal Hemar, 7000 bce.